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I do have quite a few picatinny toys but they aren't currently mounted on anything. I have two holographic sights and a Surefire light. These, I suppose, are for the house guns.

mr surveyor wrote:The dogs and "yotes" felt totally safe while the tractor was running at a steady rpm... I dropped one at a hundred yards off the tractor one day, dead on the spot, from the running tractor...

I know what you mean about the tractor. Predators seem to intuitively "know" they are safe when you're on the tractor. I used to carry a shotgun with #4 shot while mowing. Nowadays I just keep my handgun on and hope that if I need it I'll be able to get enough accuracy (wishful thinking, probably). I love your scabbard idea! I have a 30-30 that would make a perfect tractor gun.

GrayHawk wrote:In that case I think you've made an excellent choice, both the AR and the Kimber!

mr surveyor wrote:Having the rifle in the truck all the time is like American Express in reverse... Never COME home without it..... that's always when you get the magic shot to reduce the predator population!

Man, that is such a true statement. It's strange but I have most often sighted dogs when I'm on the way in or out of the property. It's not just me and you, either. I had a neighbor in Kerrville who only saw the feral dogs when he was in his truck, so he started carrying a truck rifle. A couple weeks later he bragged to me about a 400 yard kill he made from the driver's seat of his truck, using his .243 rifle.

GrayHawk wrote:I guess that if you live in a small, safe town, what is it that makes it necessary to carry an AR in your truck?

Ahh, very good question!! I don't know if I said so earlier, but I lost 3 calves during the past year to packs of roaming dogs. They roam through the pasture and have a great time chasing my herd. The joy on their face when they have a chase is equal to my anger upon finding yet another dead calf.

So, I have the rifle with me always. The rifle is not for self protection (although that's a fine side effect of it being there, but I rely on my Kimber sidearm for that purpose).

I have a 30-30 but I find that I just can't get the accuracy with it that I can with the AR-15. And when you're shooting a running dog across the pasture, accuracy is the key to success.

dicion wrote:So Unless I want to commute for hours a day, I'm stuck

I would be in the same position but fortunately I've been blessed to have a job working remotely for a company in another state. So that leaves me free to live where I want and to do my fun farming activities without financial pressure.

CompVest wrote:Small towns are great. It is nice to take the truck out buy stuff, put in the truck bed, go in another store and know your stuff is still in the truck bed!

That is VERY well said. That is a very true statement.

I've seen trucks loaded down with tools in the bed, with the ignition still running, and the owner is nowhere in sight. I often have a couple full tanks of diesel, a shovel and some other tools, sitting in the back of my truck and I've never had anything stolen.

That's not to say it wouldn't happen, but it's just far less likely in a small town. I love small towns and will never live in the city again.

USA1 wrote:nice sunglasses

Those are my son's.

AEA wrote:I would not leave an AR-15 in a car or truck in town or anywhere else. Just too easy for someone to grab it. Throwing a towel over it just makes it that much more interesting (in my opinion).

Well, I don't live in Dallas and in fact, when I go to the big city I leave the rifle at home.

Moreover, I don't spend a long time in any store. There's hardly ever time to break into my truck given that I'm rarely in a store longer than a few minutes.

Plus, criminals don't normally hang out in the parking lot of a feed store or hardware store. I don't typically go into the parts of town that would attract thieves.

You could also say that the rifle is wearing the hearing protection so that it doesn't learn what my plans are for it until it's too late. :-)

Seriously, my hearing is bad enough as it is. A dog in the pasture gives me plenty of time to don the ear protection first. The only time I think I'd ever shoot without them is if I had to suddenly deploy a gun in self defense.

That's relieving to hear this. Then I'm good to go and will continue to keep this firearm at the ready in my truck.

This is a mutt gun. I bought the upper with scope from a great guy in north DFW. The lower came from a FTF buy in Tyler and the rest was bought online. All told I have about $800 in the gun.

It is amazingly accurate, too. I have it sighted in at 100 yards and at that range with no wind, it hits the ten ring every single time. I guess you'd call it a tackdriver.

Thanks for your feedbacks!

I keep this AR-15 in my truck, sandwiched between the passenger seat and the middle console. It's loaded (but not with one in the chamber) and ready for action against dogs or other varmints. It has already seen service in battle against those feral monsters.

I suppose if I ever needed it in town as a backup rifle, then that's a side benefit of having it in the truck.



You'll notice the light coating of dust all over it. Of course, I periodically clean the rifle, but, is it a good idea to treat an AR-15 this way? Also, after an entire summer in the truck the optics seem fine, despite pretty high temperatures.

As a side note: when I go to town, I throw a towel over the rifle so nobody knows what's there.